What’s Freelance Writing? | Work from Residence Happiness

What’s freelance writing? It’s a query I’m requested. So much.

The truth is, any query about freelancing generally is a scorching subject for the time being. In spite of everything, the US has the quickest rising freelance financial system with income rising 78% yearly!

No surprise so many employees are curious concerning the freelance world. And, maybe the MOST requested about is freelance writing.

However earlier than I reply, “what’s freelance writing,” permit me to share a quick private story. (Be happy to skip to the subsequent part. You gained’t harm my emotions. Effectively, perhaps a little bit).

My Freelance Story

Do you image your self freelance writing on the seaside together with your toes within the sand and a coconut-filled cocktail at hand?

Identical.

The flexibleness of freelancing is what lures individuals in. It hooked me 12 years in the past and I’m nonetheless going sturdy immediately! Granted, I’ve by no means labored from the seaside but it surely’s good to know I may if I wished to.

However significantly, greater than a decade in the past I too discovered myself asking, “What’s freelance writing?”

I hated my company job working in HR and Authorized Departments. My means to climb the company ladder was, ahem, not good. Plus, the distractions, close to fixed interruptions, one-hour commute, and workplace politics had been draining. I couldn’t image working this manner for the subsequent 40ish years.

What Is Freelance Writing: My Personal Path to Freelance Writing

So, I began job looking.

Spoiler Alert: I didn’t discover a new job. Nevertheless, I found freelancing and the neighborhood of pros who selected to forgo the standard company world to strike out on their very own. And impulsive 20-something Ashlee put in her two weeks’ discover quickly after in pursuit of answering what’s freelance writing as soon as and for all. (Not one thing I like to recommend, but additionally not one thing I remorse).

Lengthy story brief, I kicked off my profession as a contract author with zero expertise. My first 12 months was troublesome. At occasions I needed to piece collectively a residing to make ends meet. Then a pair years into it, I had my first youngster. That’s after I panicked but additionally really embraced freelancing for all its price.

As a brand new mom I used to be capable of keep dwelling with my son and earn a residing on my (nicely, truly his) schedule. I significantly was residing the perfect of each worlds: profession and motherhood.

It was fantastic and exhausting, and I wouldn’t change it. However, I share my story with others so it’s clear that freelancing is a legitimate possibility however an possibility that comes with a steep studying curve, tears, and plenty of exhausting work.

In different phrases, it’s not for everybody. However is it for you?

So, what’s freelance writing?

All proper. Now, let’s get all the way down to the actual cause you’re right here; to search out out what’s freelance writing.

Merely put, freelance writing is whenever you contract your writing companies to a shopper or firm for a hard and fast worth. Your contract could also be for a single piece of content material or for an ongoing mission.

For instance, you possibly can write a single weblog submit or create weekly weblog posts for an ongoing contract.

Actually, it’s as much as you which ones initiatives you select, the purchasers you’re employed with, and the phrases of your contract like pay, timeline, and many others.

What are the several types of freelance writers?

I wouldn’t be capable to correctly reply what’s freelance writing with out discussing the varieties of freelance writers. All of us have a sort (Henry Cavill, amiright?) and its vital to know your freelance writing kind.

That’s as a result of there are a ton of various avenues so that you can select from. And, it’s in your finest curiosity to give attention to a really particular kind of freelance writing when beginning out. That is known as your area of interest and choosing the proper one will significantly set you up for fulfillment.

So, what are these several types of freelance writers? Sit again ’trigger there are so much. However, in an effort to not overwhelm you, I’m breaking down freelance writers into 5 extraordinarily broad classes.

1. Technical Author

A technical author transforms advanced info into content material that’s extra simply understood. Assume instruction manuals, how-to guides, operation directions, and brochures. You may additionally create graphs, charts, and diagrams.

Right here’s a snippet from an advert for a distant technical author:

2. Enterprise Author

Freelance enterprise writers are employed for A LOT of various jobs. Frequent enterprise writing wants embody every part from grants to white papers and even press releases and speeches! These days, there’s been a surge in training writing jobs due to the variety of college students who transitioned to on-line studying throughout the pandemic.

Different enterprise writers embrace profession writers, authorized writers, medical writers, tech writers, grant writers, and finance writers. Keep in mind, if there’s a enterprise for it, there are writers wanted. Once I say this can be a huge class, I imply it.

A fast LinkedIn Distant Job Search for enterprise author yields over 6,000 outcomes.

3. Ghostwriter

Boo! Ghostwriters aren’t spooky in any respect. They’re employed to put in writing on behalf of another person. The “another person” will get the official credit score for the content material although you, the ghostwriter, penned it. Ghostwriters are used for books, essays, speeches, articles, and editorial posts.

4. website positioning Author

website positioning is brief for Search Engine Optimization. That is the apply of making on-line content material that ranks nicely in searches. Web site homeowners need their enterprise/product/service to point out up on Web page 1 when a possible purchaser makes use of Google.

In consequence, companies and types rent website positioning writers to create keyword-rich content material like weblog posts and product descriptions that helps increase search engine rankings.

website positioning writers often give attention to product opinions, how-to information, weblog posts, and web site pages. When written with website positioning in thoughts, all these items of content material assist companies get discovered on-line.

5. Social Media, Gross sales, and Copywriter

Like it or hate it, social media performs an enormous position on this planet. Companies use social platforms to attach with clients, present assist, and share promotions. Customers flip to social media to find new merchandise and make shopping for selections.

That’s why firms flip to social media writers to create partaking content material that performs nicely on varied platforms. However, it doesn’t simply finish at social media! Advertising and marketing writers craft electronic mail campaigns, write gross sales copy, and give attention to utilizing phrases that convert shoppers into clients.

As a social media or advertising and marketing author you may ship out weekly newsletters, craft 280-word tweets, provide you with social media copy, put collectively gross sales content material for a product, or draft touchdown web page copy that converts!

How a lot do freelance writers earn?

In all probability the subsequent query after “What’s freelance writing,” is “How a lot do freelance writers earn?”

This isn’t a one reply query. For starters, freelance writers could be paid per mission, phrase, or letter.

For instance, one shopper hires you to put in writing a 500-word weblog submit for $50 whereas one other presents $.10 per phrase.

Nevertheless, in response to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors as an entire earn roughly $33.42 per hour.

What sort of expertise do I would like?

It relies upon. Running a blog doesn’t require earlier expertise. The truth is, anybody can be taught the way to begin a weblog and name themselves a blogger. That’s what I did. 🙂

Nevertheless, just about all different forms of freelance writing jobs require some sort of expertise. That’s why I extremely recommend on-line coaching or certification when you have zero writing expertise.

I do know what’s freelance writing. Now the place can I get freelance writing coaching?

This depends upon the kind of freelance writing you need to do. After you reply, “What’s freelance writing,” the next step is to select a distinct segment. Keep in mind, your success as a contract author actually depends upon choosing a distinct segment. You can not successfully market your self as a “common freelance author.” As a substitute, decide one of many forms of freelance writing niches to get established.

When you resolve to give attention to a sort of writing, i.e., website positioning writing, content material advertising and marketing, social media, ebooks, grants, you should have a a lot clearer path to your profession. That features the kind of on-line coaching and/or certification wanted.

In the event you haven’t picked a distinct segment but, don’t panic. It’s truly a good suggestion to take a look at coaching applications to see what is roofed. The curriculum supplies a really real looking view of what you possibly can count on to do as a full time freelance author in that area of interest.

1. The Paid to Write Membership by Good Blogger

This can be a sensible course to getting your first paid writing shopper. The truth is, Good Blogger ensures you’ll get your first paying shopper.

In the case of fundamentals, that is the place it’s at. You be taught newbie writing expertise and the way to get your first shopper. Plus, blueprints on the way to write fashionable posts and create nice content material. There are additionally skill-building challenges and suggestions supplied from instructors.

The Paid to Write Membership is a strong beginner-friendly selection whenever you need to check the freelance writing waters.

2. Free Content material Advertising and marketing Class by SmartBlogger

The content material advertising and marketing freebie dropped at you by SmartBlogger is a good complement to their Paid to Write Membership.

It builds on fundamentals and reveals college students the way to stage up their writing to higher-paying gigs on this planet of content material advertising and marketing. Keep in mind, content material advertising and marketing = gross sales. And, firms are keen to pay huge bucks to writers who may help them make extra gross sales.

I extremely suggest this freebie class to anybody who’s even semi-interested within the thought of content material advertising and marketing.

Grant Writing Certification at NonprofitReady

All you want is an account to start out studying at NonprofitReady. The grant writing certification is free. Yep, free.

This can be a good beginning off level to discover if grant writing piques your curiosity.

The Full Copywriting Course: Write to Promote Like a Professional

This course teaches aspiring copywriters the way to promote services by compelling readers to take motion.

It additionally options copywriting secrets and techniques from a number of the world’s most profitable copywriters.

This really is a well-liked course with greater than 50,000 graduates and hundreds of 5-star opinions.

Ghostwriting Masterclass: Begin a Ghostwriting Enterprise

This ghostwriting course hosted by Udemy reveals you the way to earn earnings as a ghostwriter and the way to begin a ghostwriting company.

College students obtain a certificates of completion together with lifetime entry to the course. So, you possibly can all the time come again to it any time you want a refresher.

What’s Freelance Writing?

There you will have it! Now you realize what’s freelance writing. It’s so much to absorb, proper? Imagine me, I do know. Keep in mind, I’ve been in your sneakers. There is no such thing as a straightforward path to turning into a contract author. It takes plenty of exhausting work, tons of studying, and much more dedication.

So, if studying what’s freelance writing lit a hearth below you to get began, however you’re a bit nervous – that’s okay! How can I assist?